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As Hampton University prepares to face one of college basketball's elite, an unbeaten Kentucky team chasing history, the man who coached the Pirates to their own place in NCAA tournament history watches proudly from afar. Steve Merfeld took the Pirates to back-to-back NCAA tournaments in 2001 and '02 and pulled off one of the event's great upsets, taking down No. 2 seed Iowa State in the first round in '01 in Boise, Idaho. HU also was within a few minutes of repeating the feat one year later, again as a No. 15 seed when it fell in a tight game to second-seeded Connecticut. The Pirates (17-17) won their first NCAA tournament game since '01 on Tuesday,...

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As Hampton University prepares to face one of college basketball's elite, an unbeaten Kentucky team chasing history, the man who coached the Pirates to their own place in NCAA tournament history watches proudly from afar.
Steve Merfeld took the Pirates...

College basketball season is over, but some of us are loath to let go. So before gazing ahead to next season and diving into summer recruiting, some numbers and observations from yet another compelling NCAA tournament.**Rather than marvel at an improbable...

NEW YORK — Just 18 months ago, Kevin Ollie wasn't sure how long he'd have a job at Connecticut, and Shabazz Napier didn't know if he even wanted to be at the school anymore.
As Napier climbed a stepladder Sunday afternoon to cut down a net in Madison...

College basketball collectively swooned Friday night when Virginia Tech hired Buzz Williams as its head coach, and here’s why: Williams created more national splash in six seasons at Marquette than the Hokies have in 106.
To wit: Williams guided the...

HOUSTON — Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun lost his sister-in-law and college roommate this basketball season. Recruiting violations tarnished his Hall of Fame resume.
His players were his refuge, and Monday night they provided the ultimate comfort: the...

For someone who grew up watching Howard White, Randy White and Lefty Driesell compete in the ACC, seeing the University of Maryland leave the conference for the Big Ten is illogical if not blasphemous. But realignment scoffs at tradition, projected...

For the first time since 1959-61, ACC basketball has gone three consecutive years without a Final Four representative. Only four league teams made the tournament, fewer than the Mountain West, Pacific 12 and Atlantic 10, and the conference’s lone regional...

If you're still trying to wrap your head around the Final Four of VCU, Butler, Kentucky and Connecticut, get in line.
This is like the street-corner sax player collecting a Grammy nomination. It's not that the dude can't play. He can, enough to make...

Few of Tom Izzo's players at Michigan State have been subjected to his verbal assaults as much as Goran Suton.Even during the Spartans' Elite Eight victory over top-seeded Louisville on Sunday in Indianapolis, Izzo yanked the 6-foot-10 senior center to...

In their sodium-pentathol moments, NCAA suits had to crave this.A Michigan State upset of Connecticut in Saturday's Final Four semifinals would not only assure a championship-game madhouse at Ford Field, but also eliminate the chances of their most...

The center who escaped war-ravaged Sarajevo, the forward who endured his father's imprisonment, the coaches chasing their second national championship.The point guard's toe, the freshman's knees, the icon's farewell.The favorite's dominance, the...

HOUSTON — Richmond and Cleveland State were the 1980s pioneers, charming and obscure underdogs who crashed the NCAA basketball tournament's Sweet 16.
Loyola Marymount, Rhode Island and Gonzaga went a step beyond during the '90s, reaching the Elite Eight....

Dave Leitao, who coached DePaul from 2002-05, has been brought back to lead the men's basketball program.
Leitao, who led the Blue Demons to three postseason appearances in his first stint, left DePaul to take over at Virginia. He was there for four...

BIKINGMAY 30: Jim Calhoun Ride and Walk for lifesaving research and care, start and finish at Northwest Catholic High School, West Hartford. The event will feature rides of 12, 36 and 60 miles and a 5K walk. Benefits UConn Health Research...

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Using the Jeff Jacobs eyeball metric, a metric not nearly as scientific as FiveThirtyEight over at ESPN, Rick Pitino is the best game manager in college basketball.Of course, when I wrote that three years ago, Jim Calhoun opened a...

HARTFORD — Daniel Hamilton watched Ryan Boatright hit that crossover three-pointer on Octavius Ellis with two-tenths of a second left Friday night to beat Cincinnati, and the freshman from Los Angeles just couldn't contain himself.
Hamilton picked up his...

Terrance Knighton and Chris Baker were classmates and teammates at Windsor High. They remained close as they pursued NFL careers, and the bond was not broken when they played for different teams. This season, the friends will again be teammates....

It's always good to hear from the Hall of Famer and former UConn basketball coach Jim Calhoun. On Tuesday, Calhoun reflected on one of his favorite people and players, Richard "Rip" Hamilton, who retired last week from the NBA after 14 seasons...